Kathy Kadilak, President of Strategic Work/Life Solutions, answers some tough questions about teleworking from The Teleworker readers. This month, she discusses management resistance and the benefits of teleworking.

Q: Telework sounds great but, I just don’t think that my boss is ready to consider that option. In the meantime, I sit in traffic for a total of three to four hours each workday. I’m really burning out. Metrorail isn’t much relief since I have to drive more than 25 miles to get there " in rush hour traffic " and parking is not a guarantee. What are my options?

A: There are some good alternatives to driving into work on your own. I would strongly recommend checking into carpools and vanpools. You can go to Commuter Connections (www.commuterconnections.org) to learn more. This service connects riders with carpools and vanpools for free. In addition, you might check into the Virginia Railway Express or if you are in Maryland the MARC Rail, and consider riding the train to work. If you are outside of the Washington, D.C. area, check with your local area transportation authorities.

Q: We are wondering if you know whether or not the Department of Justice (DOJ) allows attorneys to telework.

A: Yes, as the former DOJ Telework Manager, I regularly responded to that question from individual attorneys, law firms, and various bar associations. The DOJ considers attorneys eligible to telework within the confines of their duties and their organization’s telework policy. The agency has allowed both appellate and trial attorneys to telework "and many have successfully done so for years. More information on the DOJ telework program can be found on the DOJ’s Worklife Program Web site (www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ps/worklife.html). In addition, here’s a great book to read on telework and how it benefits attorneys: Telecommuting for Lawyers by Nicole Belson Goluboff.

Q: I’m wondering about saving money on child care as a benefit of telework. Can an employee have their kids at home when they are working in a home office? Wouldn’t that save money and time?

A: Many organizations are very reluctant to allow employees to telework when they have children at home, unless a caregiver is present. This primarily has to do with the potential for interruptions and distractions that can result in the work not getting done as well or at all. Usually, it is permissible to have school-age children at home when you are working there. They don’t require the attention that infants and toddlers do " although for those of us who have experienced life with teenagers, that’s an arguable point!

Q: What kind of lead time should I expect as I move forward with requesting a telework arrangement?

A: Expect a minimum of three to four weeks of advance planning to establish a telework arrangement. This includes the time required for submitting your request, discussing it with your boss, and getting your home office ready to go before you actually start teleworking. In addition, request a minimum of 120 days for a new telework arrangement to be tested before a manager makes the final decision on whether or not to permit it for a longer term. It takes several weeks for everyone involved to get used to the telework schedule and to decide if it is a mutually-agreeable arrangement.